In 2021 we appointed Her Majesty the Queen’s representative for Bedfordshire - the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis - as our first charity Patron.

Helen Nellis was appointed by HM The Queen as the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire and served for 11 years. She was awarded  Commander of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (CStJ) for services to humanity and Commander of the Royal Victoria Order (CVO) for distinguished service to HM The Queen.

Helen’s career has spanned the law, higher education, health and the commercial sector. A qualified Barrister and academic by background, she has worked as a global senior executive search professional and has a consultancy business as an executive coach specialising in the improvement of personal and board- level leadership performance in complex organisations.

Together with her family, Helen has been involved in supporting development in a village in Ghana for many years. She is a Trustee, President and Patron of several charities.

Commenting on her appointment as Patron, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis said:

"At this moment in history, where we all have an increased awareness of the vital importance of looking after our environment so that we can live in harmony with nature, it is a pleasure and an honour to support the excellent work of The Forest of Marston Vale Trust as their Patron. I have long been impressed by the huge difference they make to our lives in Bedfordshire. Their outreach programmes, which engage young and not so young, enable greater understanding of the part we can all play in nurturing our natural world so that future generations will benefit. Plant a tree today and just imagine a child, one hundred years from now, playing under its boughs - a beautiful thought!"

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